Magnetic feeler for looms.



Patented Apr. 29, I902.

C. P. BOSTIAN. MAGNETIC FEELEH FOR LOOMS.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1901.7

2 Sheets-Sheet L (No Model.)

(-luveuloz No. 698,437. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

C; P. BDSTIAN.

MAGNETIC FEELER FDR [:UOMS.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 2,

2 z /0 glvwenfoz Qvil'neooea I mow m: nouns PETERS cn. PHOTO-LITHO.. wAswmaTou. ov c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES VP. BOSTIAN, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO COLEMAN K. SOBER, OF LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAGNETIC FEE L E R FOR LOOMS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,437, dated April 29, 1902. Application filed August 9, 1901. Serial No. 71,501- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. Bosrmu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Northumberland, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetic Feelers for Looms, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to improvements in magnetic feelers for automatically setting into operation devices for replenishing the filling in looms.

To this end the invention comprises a hollow permanent magnet of peculiar construction and a feeler which is magnetized by said magnet and adapted to engage the metal spindle or filling-carrier in the shuttle when the filling on the latter is nearly exhausted. The adherence of the feeler to the spindle as the latter moves rearwardly causes the feeler to release automatic devices for replenishing the filling.

By means of my improvements the feeler is strongly magnetized without the necessity of employing electromagnetic coils or solen-.

oids, and as no electric current is required to operate the device a considerable saving in expense is attained and the trouble and delay which frequently occur with electromagnetic devices due to interruption in the circuit or breakdown of the generating plant is avoided.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section through the magnet which energizes the feeler, the latter being shown in side view together with coacting parts of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the feeler. Fig. 4. is a view showing a portion of a loom with the magnet, feeler, and parts operated thereby secured to the frame. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the shuttle, magnet, feeler, and cooperating parts.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, A indicates the magnet, and B the feeler. The magnet, as shown, consists of a large number of fine hard-steel wires 1, which are arranged within a tubular casing 2, which is made of brass or other. non-magnetic material. One end of the tube is closed by a head 3, also made of non-magnetic material, and

the head 3 is an inwardly-projecting collar or sleeve 8, also made of brass or non-magnetic material, the interior of this sleeve registering with the opening 9, through which the feeler extends. Similarly a sleeve 10 is arranged at the inner end of the bore 6 upon the head 4, said sleeve being also of brass or other non-magnetic material. The wires 1 are arranged in tubular form between these sleeves or collars and the casing 2, the sleeves serving the purpose of preventing the wires from coming in contact with the feeler and also from becoming disarranged. The wires are strongly magnetized and the ends which are of one polarity abut against the inner face of the head 4, so that the said head and the conical end 5 become magnetized thereby, the pole of the magnet being thus carried to the outer end of the tubular conical extension;

The feeler B consists of a rod made of soft iron or soft steel. In order to make the rod as light as possible, so that it will move freely, the greater portion of the rod is made hollow. As shown in Fig. 3, the forward portion 12 is solid and formed with a tapering end 13, and the central and rear portion 1 1 is tubular. The part 12 is secured to the part 14: in any suitable manner, so as to make a continuous rod. As shown, the rear end 15 of the portion 12 is fitted within the forward endof the portion 14. A soft iron or steel cap or head 16 is fitted to therear end of the tubularfportion 14, and surrounding the rear endof said portion is a sleeve 17, formed of brass or other non-magnetic material. The feeler is mov able freely through the magnet, being guided at the rear end by the opening 9, through which it extends, and at its forward end by the bore 6 at its outer extremity. As the bore or opening 6 tapers from the head 4 outwardly, it will be seen that the rod or feeler will come in contact with the conical extension 5 only at its outer extremity. The magnetism will thus be conducted from the small wires through the conical extension to the feeler at the point of contact. As the feeleronly engages the magnetized metal at this one point, the feeler is movable freely through the magnet. The magnetism thus conducted to the feeler will extend to its outer tapering end 13. As the head 3 is formed of non-mag netic metal and the rear end of the feeler is not in contact with the magnet, the head 16 will be slightly magetized, while the pointed end 13 will be strongly magnetized.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the magnet and feeler are shown applied to a loom, only so much of the latter as is necessary to illustrate the invention being shown. In said figures, 18 indicates the lay-beam of the loom, and 19 the shuttle movable thereon, said shuttle having a spindle or filling-carrier 20, made of iron or steel, with which the forward end of the feeler is adapted to engage when the filling is nearly exhausted from the spindle. For this purpose an opening 21 is formed in the side of the shuttle, and when the shuttle comes to a stop said opening registers with an opening 22, formed in the shuttle-box, these openings being directly opposite the feeler, which, with themagnet, is secured to the breast-beam 23 of the loom. From an inspection of Fig. 5 it will beevident that when the lay-beam moves forward the feeler will enter the openings in I the box, and also at every second forward movement of the lay-beam, when the shuttle is in the position shown, said feeler will enter through the openingin the side of the shuttle and bear against the filling upon the spindle. Should the filling be exhausted to such an extent that the feeler will come in contact with the spindle, the feeler, owing to the magnetism which is impartedto it by the magnet, will adhere to the spindle and be drawn outward by the rearward movement of the laybeam. This outward movement of the feeler releases automatic mechanism which replenishes the supply of filling material.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the feeler is shown in its normal position, with the head 16 extending out a short distance from the end of the magnet, said head being in contact with a magnetizable spring 24, which serves to limit the outward movement of the feeler and also to prevent its inward movement, except when the feeler is drawn inward by its contact with the spindle. The head 16,as previously stated, is magnetized, although the feeler at the rear end of the magnet is not in actual contact with the magnet. The magnetism of the head 16 is, however, not nearly as strong as the magnetism of the forward tapering end 13; but it is sufficient to cause said head to adhere to the spring 24 and form a permanent connection therewith, which will keep the feeler in its normal position when the latter is struck by the filling upon the spindle. In such case the spring acts'as a buffer to check the rearward movement of the feeler and return it to its normal' position, and the magnetic attraction between the head 16 and the spring prevents the feeler from being thrown forward by the recoil of the spring. When, however, the filling is nearly exhausted from the spindle, the latter comes in contact with the strongly-magnetized end of the feeler, and the latter is drawn away from the spring.

The spring 24, as shown, is connected to a lever 25, which is connected by a pivot-pin 26 to a bracket 27, the latter being secured to the breast-beam of the loom. To the lever 25 is connected a rod 28, which operates suitable mechanism for replenishing the filling material when actuated by the movement of the feeler. A spring 29, arranged between the outer end of the bracket 27 and the outer end of the lever 25, normally draws a finger 30 against the side of the head 16 upon the feeler. The forward end 31 of this finger is arranged at an angle oblique to the line of movement of the feeler, and thus forms a camsurface. When the feeler is in its normal position, the head 16 bears against the side of the finger 30 which is parallel with the feeler, and therefore the lever 25 and rod 28 are held in the position shown until the feeler is drawn inwardly by its adherence to the spindle 20. When the feeler is thus drawn inwardly, the head passes from the parallel face of the finger 30 and the cam-su rface 31 is drawn against the head by the spring 29. This causes the rod 28 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 5, a sufficient distance to operate the filling-replenishing apparatus. As soon as the new filling is inserted in the shuttle and said filling engages the end of the feeler the latter will be driven back to its nor mal position, forcing the head 16 against the cam-face 31 in its outward movement, thereby bringing the parts, again into position shown in Fig. 5.

It will be evident from the above description and the drawings that by means of'my improved magnet and feeler the filling-1e plenishing apparatus may be actuated without the necessity for electric circuits and the consequent expense and annoyance which are incident to the use of electric currents. This conical extension gives a-bearing to the feeler at a considerable distance from the end of the magnet, and while the feeler is freely movable longitudinally of the magnet it is yet held rigidly against lateral strains, and the feeler may therefore have a small diameter or cross-section and be made light in-weight. This is an advantage, for the reason that it is desirable to avoid making a large opening in the side of the shuttle, and the light construction permits it to be moved easily. The heavy conical extension, which extends into the opening in the shuttle-box, conducts the magnetism to the feeler near its pointed end,

where it is desirable to have a strong mag I'Io netic effect, and as the feeler is drawn outwardly from the end of the cone the magnetic Having thus fully described my invention,

whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a loom, the combination with a shut-' tle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a permanent magnet and a feeler consisting of a magnetizable rod movable in contact with said magnet and extending into the path of the filling-carrier.

2. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet and a feeler consistin g of a magnetizable rod movable within the magnet and extending into the path of the filling-carrier.

3. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet havihg an elongated head projecting beyond the breast-beam of the loom, and a feeler consistingof amagnetizable rod movable withinthe magnet and extending into the path of the filling-carrier:

4.- In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet having an elongated tapering head projecting beyond the breast-beam of the loom, and a feeler con sisting of a magnetizable rod movable within the magnet and extending into the path of the filling-carrier.

5. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet having an elongated head projecting beyond the breasfibeam "ofthe loom, and a feeler consisting of a magnetizable rod movable longitudinally within the magnet and extending into the path of.

the filling-carrier, the outer end of said head being in contact with and forming a guide a for the feeler;

6. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet having an elongated head projecting beyond the breast-beam of the loom, said head having a longitudinal tapering bore, of a feeler consisting of a magnetizable rod movable longitudinally through the magnet and in contact therewith only at the outer endof said tapering bore.

'7. In a 100m, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet,a feeler consisting of a magnetizablerod extending throughand movable longitudinally within the magnet, said rod being in contact with the magnet at its forward end only, and a magnetizable spring arranged in the path of the rear end ofsaid rod.

8. In a loom, the combination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a hollow permanent magnet, a feeler consisting of a magnetizable rodextending through and movable longitudinallywithin the magnet, said rod being in contact with the magnet at its forward end only and having a head at its rear end and a magnetizable spring in the path of said latter head;

9. In a loom, thecombination with a shuttle having a magnetizable filling-carrier of a hollow permanent magnet comprising an an nularly-arranged group of magnetized wires, a non magnetic casing surrounding said wires, a magnetizable head in contact with the wires at one end of the casing, said head having an elongated tubular extension,a nonmagnetic head at the opposite end of the casing and a feeler consisting of a magnetizable rod extending through said heads;

10. In a loom, the combination with a shut tle having a magnetizable filling-carrier, of a magnetiiable feeler, the forward end of which is arranged in the path of said carrier, a magnet arranged to magnetize said feeler stronger at the forward end than at the rear end, and a magnetizable spring arranged in the path of said rear end. j j p In testimorly'whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

oHARL-iis 1?. Bos'riAit Witnessesi ROBERT WATSON,

O. W, CLEMENT.- 

